Electrical contact with anti-rotation feature

Abstract

An electrical contact, connector and assembly. The contact includes a contact portion for mating with a mating contact. A stabilizing portion extends from an end of the contact which is opposite the contact portion. The stabilizing portion cooperates with at least one stabilization member of a housing of an electrical connector to minimize the rotation of the contact relative to the electrical connector. The connector includes a housing having stabilization members provided in contact receiving cavities. The assembly includes a terminal position assurance device which engages the stabilizing portions and cooperates with the stabilizing portions to increase the pull out force required to displace the contacts.

1 . An electrical contact comprising:
 a contact portion for mating with a mating contact;   a stabilizing portion extending from an end of the contact which is opposite the contact portion, the stabilizing portion cooperating with at least one stabilization member of a housing of an electrical connector to minimize the rotation of the contact relative to the electrical connector.   
     
     
         2 . The electrical contact as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing portion extends from an insulation barrel of the contact in a direction away from the contact portion. 
     
     
         3 . The electrical contact as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing portion has a first member and a second member, the second member cooperates with the at least one stabilization member of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The electrical contact as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the second member extends essentially perpendicular to the first member. 
     
     
         5 . The electrical contact as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the second member has a free end surface which cooperates with a surface of the at least one stabilization member of the housing to minimize the rotation of the contact relative to the electrical connector. 
     
     
         6 . The electrical contact as recited in  claim 3 , wherein a transition portion is provided between the first member of the stabilizing portion and the end of the contact with is opposite the contact portion. 
     
     
         7 . An electrical connector comprising;
 a housing having stabilization members provided in contact receiving cavities;   contacts having contact portions for mating with a mating contacts, stabilizing portions extending from ends of the contacts which are opposite the contact portions, the stabilizing portions cooperating with the stabilization members to minimize the rotation of the contacts relative to the housing.   
     
     
         8 . The electrical connector as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the stabilization members are spaced from top walls and sidewalls of the contact receiving cavities contact portion, wire barrel portion and insulation portion. 
     
     
         9 . The electrical connector as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the stabilizing portions have first members and second members, the second members cooperate with the stabilization members of the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The electrical connector as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the second members extend essentially perpendicular to the first members. 
     
     
         11 . The electrical connector as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the second members have free end surfaces which cooperate with surfaces of the stabilization members to minimize the rotation of the contacts relative to the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The electrical connector as recited in  claim 9 , wherein transition portions are provided between the first members of the stabilizing portions and the ends of the contacts with are opposite the contact portions. 
     
     
         13 . An electrical connector assembly comprising;
 a housing having stabilization members provided in contact receiving cavities;   contacts having contact portions for mating with mating contacts, stabilizing portions extending from ends of the contacts which are opposite the contact portions, the stabilizing portions cooperating with the stabilization members to minimize the rotation of the contacts relative to the housing;   a terminal position assurance device for engaging the stabilizing portions, the cooperating with the stabilizing portions to increase the pull out force required to displace the contacts.   
     
     
         14 . The electrical connector assembly as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the terminal position assurance device has contact engagement sections which are received in the contact receiving cavities, the contact engagement sections have first sides which include planar surfaces and second sides which include curved surfaces. 
     
     
         15 . The electrical connector assembly as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the stabilization members are spaced from top walls and sidewalls of the contact receiving cavities. 
     
     
         16 . The electrical connector assembly as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the stabilizing portions have first members and second members, the second members cooperate with the stabilization members of the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The electrical connector assembly as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the second members extend essentially perpendicular to the first members. 
     
     
         18 . The electrical connector assembly as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the first members engage the terminal position assurance device proximate the first sides of the contact engagement sections. 
     
     
         19 . The electrical connector assembly as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the second members have free end surfaces which cooperate with surfaces of the stabilization members to minimize the rotation of the contacts relative to the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The electrical connector assembly as recited in  claim 13 , wherein transition portions are provided between the first members of the stabilizing portions and the ends of the contacts which are opposite the contact portions.